Tools · RN vs NP
Is NP school worth it
for you?
Enter your numbers. The calculator shows the money and time tradeoff for three NP pay levels. It reports figures; it does not decide for you.
Results
Pre-tax unless you set a tax estimate. No pay growth, no inflation, no benefits. Loan payments start the year after school.
| NP pay level | NP pay per year | Break-even year | Difference by year 20 | Hourly: NP vs RN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (25th percentile) | $117,990 (secondary, unverified) | – | – | – |
| Median | $132,300 (secondary, unverified) | – | – | – |
| High (75th percentile) | $156,700 (secondary, unverified) | – | – | – |
Annual loan payment: – for 10 years. Total interest: –.
Year-by-year table (median NP pay)
| Year | RN path income | NP path income | Out of pocket | Loan payment | Difference | Cumulative |
|---|
Before you decide
The numbers show money and time. They do not show whether the work will suit you. Consider these questions with the results:
- How many hours a week would you work as an NP, and what on-call expectations come with the role?
- What time away from family and work can you give school?
- What would you do with extra income or time?
- Which patient population do you want to care for?
How the calculator works
- Tuition is counted once: out-of-pocket payments during school, plus loan payments after school.
- Forgone income is the RN pay you give up during school, included in the difference.
- The break-even year is the first year after school when your running total is zero or positive.
- NP pay levels are BLS May 2025 medians for the median case. The 25th and 75th percentiles are secondary BLS figures, confirmed by David on November 8, 2026.
- Model version 1.0.0. The full method is in the project specification.